Calling the soon-to-end decade “transformative” for classical music, the Chicago Sun-Times points out a few highlights in more or less in chronological order. They begin—literally—with the arrival on September 19, 2010, of … » Read

Ivan Hewett, classical music critic for The Telegraph , doesn’t especially like the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s (VPO) New Year’s Day Concert, which reaches more than 60 million viewers in almost a hundred countries around … » Read

In its year-end review of classical music, The San Francisco Chronicle , makes the case that it’s been a great year for women. “Maybe,” writes critic Joshua Kosman, “we [can] even give Bach and Beethoven and the rest of … » Read

SAN FRANCISCO — It was a tumultuous year in the opera world, a year in which sexual harassment allegations against superstar Plácido Domingo prompted his disappearance from American stages and sparked deep soul-searching. Opera … » Read

As part of her Best of the Year wrap-up (“outstanding music around the UK this year distracted us from woes about the planet and Brexit”), Fiona Maddocks does a quick run down of all the changes anticipated at major UK orchestras: … » Read

PARIS (AP) — The rector of Notre Dame Cathedral says the Paris landmark is still so fragile that there’s a “50 percent chance” the structure might not be saved, because scaffolding installed before this year’s fire … » Read

The Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale has received two significant year-end gifts. By way of its Montana Development Co., the Sukin family has given a building in downtown Billings to the orchestra for use as office space. It is the … » Read

10. Vienna Philharmonic’s performance of Mahler Symphony No. 9 at Carnegie Hall under Michael Tilson Thomas. “Spacious, glimmering, and grand.” 9. MusicAeterna chorus and orchestra in the Verdi Requiem under Greek-Russian … » Read

In an internal memo obtained by Le Figaro , Paris Opera General Director Stéphane Lissner [pictured] "shares [his] concern" that the company’s losses due to ongoing worker strikes could amount to "at least 12 million euros." Monday … » Read

When California’s groundbreaking AB5 legislation —known as the “gig work” bill—takes effect on January 1, 2020, the ability of arts organizations to hire many of their workers as contractors rather than staff … » Read